Rating Rationale
October 22, 2019 | Mumbai
Ambika Cotton Mills Limited
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.455.55 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A+/Stable
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL ratings on the bank facilities of Ambika Cotton Mills Limited (ACML) continues to reflect extensive experience of the promoter, established market position in the finer cotton yarn segment, long-standing relationships with its key customers, healthy operating efficiency and strong financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to volatility in raw material prices and foreign exchange (forex) rates.
 
CRISIL had upgraded the ratings on the long term bank facilities of ACML to 'CRISIL A+/Stable' from 'CRISIL A/Positive', while reaffirming the rating on the short term facilities at 'CRISIL A1' on 1st Oct, 2019.
 
There has been a healthy improvement in the business risk profile, with revenue diversification while sustaining its strong financial risk profile.  Total operating income grew by 10% in fiscal 2019, to Rs 657 crore, supported by continued ramp up in its knitting division. The utilisation of the knitting capacities have improved to optimum level of around 85 percent for fiscal 2019 from 44 percent for fiscal 2018.
 
Over the medium term, the growth is expected to be supported by addition of yarn capacities and increasing fabric revenues. ACML is expected to incur capital expenditure (capex) of around Rs.60-70 crore for addition of 30,000 spindles that shall support the incremental revenues from the sale of yarn. Additionally, fabric division to benefit further, with increase in captive utilization of yarn.
 
ACML enjoys strong pricing flexibility, aided by its premium positioning in the cotton yarn market and its adequate captive power facilities. This had resulted in stable operating margin at 17.7-19.6%, over the four years through fiscal 2019.Going forward, continued focus on operating efficiency to result in strong operating margin of 19.5 percent and cash accrual of around Rs.100 crore.
 
ACML continues to have a robust financial risk profile; total outside liability to tangible net worth (TOLTNW) is expected to be at 0.4 time over the medium term. Despite management plans to add spindle capacity, the capital structure to remain healthy as it is expected to be funded by internal accruals. Additionally, healthy profitability and prudent working capital management should support the key financial metrics over the medium term.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Established market position in the finer count yarn segment: ACML benefits from its established market position and the global repute as a manufacturer of premium cotton yarn, supported by extensive experience of the promoters, long-standing supplier and customer relationships, and strong in-house operational capabilities. ACML specializes in manufacturing premium quality compact yarn by optimal blending of imported and indigenous cotton, primarily used for finer shirting requirements.
 
* Healthy operating efficiencies: ACML has healthy operating efficiencies, supported by premium quality yarn. This has led to better price realisation, flexibility to pass on increases in raw material prices and adequate captive power facilities, resulting in reduced power costs. Additionally, prudent working capital management has resulted in healthy returns on capital employed of 15-20% over the four years through fiscal 2019.
 
* Healthy financial risk profile: Financial risk profile remains healthy, backed by strong capital structure and healthy debt protection metrics. Networth and TOLTNW were comfortable at Rs 475 crore and 0.40 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2019. Debt protection metrics are strong, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios of 15 times and 0.58 times, respectively, for fiscal 2019. ACML's strong liquidity is marked by sparsely utilised bank lines and healthy cash accrual generation against no major debt obligation.
 
Weakness:
* Susceptibility to volatility in raw material prices and forex rates: Cotton is a key raw material, accounting for most of the company's turnover. Cotton prices are volatile because they are dependent on the monsoon. Furthermore, the prices are largely affected by international demand. Volatility in availability and prices of cotton affects operating margin as reflected in the decline in margin in fiscals 2012, due to volatile raw material price movements. Exports account for around 75% of the ACML's turnover, thereby exposing the company to considerable volatility in forex rates.
 
Liquidity: Strong
ACML has strong liquidity, supported by low utilisation of the bank limits and healthy accruals against which there are no repayment obligations. ACML's working capital limits have been utilised at around 18 percent, over the last twelve months through June 2019. Cash accrual in excess of Rs.100 crore is expected to be generated over the medium term, against no maturing repayment obligations. Further, all future capex plans is expected to be funded out of internal accruals. Current ratio is healthy at 2.47 times as on March 31, 2019, supporting the liquidity.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes ACML will maintain its business performance over the medium term, supported by its established market position in the textile segment and strong operating efficiencies.
 
Rating Sensitivity Factors
Upward factor
* Improvement in turnover by more than 25 percent
* Stability in operating profitability while sustaining the share of revenues from fabric
 
Downward factor
* Deterioration in TOLTNW to more than 1.5 times
* Decline in operating profitability, adversely impacting cash accrual

About the Company

ACML, incorporated as a private limited company in 1988, was reconstituted as a public company in 1994. The company spins cotton yarn primarily in the finer count range of 60s-100s and manufacturing fabric. While about 75% of the revenue is derived from exports, the rest is from domestic market. ACML has 4 manufacturing units with a total spindle capacity of 108,288 nos. of compacting system. Additionally, the company has about 40 MTPD of knitting capacity. ACML also has an installed wind mill generation capacity of 27.4 megawatt located in Tamil Nadu. Mr PV Chandran is the Chairman and Managing Director of the company.
 
ACML is listed on the National Stock Exchange and the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31  Units 2019 2018
Operating income Rs crore 657.00 600.04
Reported profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 62.48 61.06
PAT margins % 9.51 10.18
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth Times 0.18 0.23
Interest coverage Times 13.28 20.45

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments. The CRISIL complexity levels are available on www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users are advised to refer to the CRISIL complexity levels for instruments that they consider for investment. Users may also call the Customer Service Helpdesk with queries on specific instruments.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of Instrument Date of Allotment Coupon Rate (%) Maturity Date Issue Size (Rs Crore) Rating Assigned with Outlook
NA Composite Working Capital Limit NA NA NA 445 CRISIL A1
NA Proposed Working Capital Facility NA NA NA 10.55 CRISIL A+/Stable
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2019 (History) 2018  2017  2016  Start of 2016
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  455.55  CRISIL A+/Stable/ CRISIL A1  01-10-19  CRISIL A+/Stable/ CRISIL A1  03-10-18  CRISIL A/Positive/ CRISIL A1  04-04-17  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1  22-03-16  CRISIL A-/Positive/ CRISIL A2+  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+ 
            24-08-18  CRISIL A/Positive/ CRISIL A1      28-01-16  CRISIL A-/Positive   
            18-07-18  CRISIL A/Positive/ CRISIL A1           
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST    --    --    --    --  22-03-16  CRISIL A2+  CRISIL A2+ 
                    28-01-16  CRISIL A2+   
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Composite Working Capital Limit 445 CRISIL A1 Composite Working Capital Limit 445.55 CRISIL A1
Proposed Working Capital Facility 10.55 CRISIL A+/Stable Proposed Working Capital Facility 10 CRISIL A+/Stable
Total 455.55 -- Total 455.55 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
Rating Criteria for Cotton Textile Industry
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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